The ID. Unyx 09 from Volkswagen has just been leaked, and it's the type of electric vehicle I'm eager to see in the US.

      The partnership between VW and Xpeng is delivering exactly what we anticipated.

      I’ve noticed Volkswagen’s China lineup gradually becoming more impressive over the last two years, but the ID. Unyx 09 might signify a turning point that generates excitement not just among Chinese consumers, but globally as well.

      Recent regulatory documents from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have revealed the complete specifications of the forthcoming sedan ahead of its official release later this year, and it resembles no VW model I’ve encountered before (via CarNewsChina).

      How does the ID. Unyx 09 actually appear?

      Two words: truly eye-catching. It features split LED headlights, a shark-nose front, blacked-out A-pillars, semi-flush door handles on the side, illuminated logos, and a gently sloping fastback roofline, all set on a body extending beyond five meters.

      This seems less like a VW and more akin to a premium offering from Xpeng, which is intentional. The ID. Unyx 09 is the second vehicle co-created under Volkswagen’s partnership with Xpeng, a collaboration that has evidently encouraged VW designers to move away from caution and start drawing global attention to their vehicles.

      As a long-time fan of Xpeng’s design principles, particularly their stunning looks at prices that put European competitors to shame, I would say this influence is proving effective.

      What’s beneath the surface, and when will it be available for purchase?

      The electric vehicle may offer two powertrain options: a rear-wheel-drive model delivering 308hp and an all-wheel-drive version generating 496hp in total. Both options might be paired with lithium iron phosphate batteries from CATL, with a potential top speed limited to 124mph.

      L2 Navigate-on-Autopilot is likely to be a standard feature for both highway and city use, and a face recognition sensor in the B-pillar will complete the tech suite.

      Official sales are expected to commence in China in the latter half of 2026, and just to clarify, there are currently no signs that this model will be available in the US anytime soon, which is quite frustrating.

      For more than five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified advancements in the consumer tech sector and presented them…

      The Apple Car may be defunct, but it laid the groundwork for Apple Intelligence.

      A decade of effort on a discontinued car initiative is said to have contributed to Apple’s AI development. Even though the Apple Car never hit the streets, it reportedly spawned Apple's ambitions in artificial intelligence. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s abandoned self-driving vehicle project, which involved over ten years of work and more than $10 billion before being halted in 2024, established the technological basis for Apple Intelligence. In an ironic turn, one of Apple's most significant failures may end up being one of its most critical long-term ventures.

      The Apple Car compelled Apple to adopt the mindset of an AI enterprise.

      China's GWM is creating an electric vehicle reminiscent of the Beetle, and it somehow looks improved.

      GWM is enhancing the Ora Ballet Cat with a 150kW motor and a top speed of 180 km/h.

      While the Volkswagen Beetle may no longer be available, one of its evident spiritual successors isn't going away anytime soon. Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) is gearing up to reintroduce the Ora Ballet Cat, its retro-styled electric hatchback that has often been compared to the classic Beetle. This time, however, the company hopes that improvements in performance and a new identity will succeed where clever marketing previously fell short.

      As reported by Car News China, the latest regulatory filings in China indicate that the Ora Ballet Cat is being equipped with a more potent electric motor, a higher top speed, and might even discard its feline-inspired name entirely. This update comes as competition in China's electric vehicle market reaches unprecedented levels, prompting automakers to rethink products that once stood out solely for their aesthetics.

      Slate's new EV truck colors resemble those from a Crayola box.

      Slate Auto has partnered with Crayola to give its affordable electric truck a vibrant new look.

      If any electric truck needed a burst of color, it was Slate's. The startup, backed by Bezos, has announced a collaboration with Crayola, bringing the iconic crayon maker's recognizable color palette to its minimalist electric pickup. And indeed, one of the available colors is actually named Razzmatazz.